by-street

or by·street

[ bahy-street ]

noun

1. a side street or a private or obscure street; byway.

Word History and Origins

Origin of by-street¹

First recorded in 1665–75; by- + street

Example Sentences

Soon they were in a by-street, whence the clamor of Carnival slowly died away, leaving no sound upon the morning air but their footfalls and the faint whisper of her petticoats where she tripped along beside him.

From Project Gutenberg

He betook himself, together with his charge, to a certain small, old-fashioned hotel in a by-street, where he was in the habit of staying whenever his ship was lying in Portsmouth Harbour.

From Project Gutenberg

Pause in a narrow by-street in a crowd, and it shall be that Borgo Allegri, which the people so baptized for love of the old painter and the new-born art.

From Project Gutenberg

Beyond there was nothing but darkness, an unlighted by-street, not more than two or three yards in width.

From Project Gutenberg

Having crossed the main street that runs parallel to the river, Ling turned into a by-street, and thence into the blind alley, at the termination of which was Ah Wu's opium den.

From Project Gutenberg